GOSS AND COHEN-CANARIES

The football match between Bayern Munich and Norwich City was played at the Olympiastadian, Munich, on 19 October 1993, as part of the second round of the 1993-4 UEFA Cup and finished in a   2–1 victory for the English side. Jeremy Goss, below right, and Mark Cohen, below left, scored for Norwich and Christian Nerlinger replied for Bayern; all three goals were scored in the first half. The opening goal by Goss, a volley from outside the area, is considered the greatest goal in Norwich's history and the victory the pinnacle of the club's history.

Norwich had qualified for the season's UEFA Cup after finishing third in the inaugural Premier League season, while Bayern had ended their previous campaign in the 1992-3, Bundesliga in second place. This was Norwich's third competitive match in European football, having defeated SBV Vitesse 3–0 on aggregate in the first round. In contrast, Bayern Munich were playing their 185th European cup tie and had progressed to the second round with a 7–3 aggregate victory over FC Twente.

The result was a huge upset in European football; it was the only victory by a British club against Bayern Munich in their Olympiastadion. That it was Norwich that inflicted the defeat was startling: Norwich were "mere babes at this level" and, according to Goss, "there's no doubt Bayern assumed it would be easy". German sports magazine "Kicker" was critical of Bayern's approach to the match.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	West Ham United	18	(0)
2005–2006	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	30	(1)
2006–2007	Yeovil Town	44	(6)
2007–2018	Nottingham Forest	272	(14)
Total		364	(21)
International career
2003	England U16	3	(0)
2002–2003	England U17	5	(0)
Managerial career
2026–	Lincoln City (joint with Tom Shaw)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	West Ham United	18	(0)
2005–2006	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	30	(1)
2006–2007	Yeovil Town	44	(6)
2007–2018	Nottingham Forest	272	(14)
Total		364	(21)
International career
2003	England U16	3	(0)
2002–2003	England U17	5	(0)
Managerial career
2026–	Lincoln City (joint with Tom Shaw)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

The second leg was played on 3 November 1993 and ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning that Norwich won the tie 3–2 on aggregate. They went on to be defeated by eventual champions Internazionale 2–0 over the two legs in the third round. Norwich ended their domestic season in 12th place in the Premier League, while Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, one point ahead of Kaiserslautern.

THE INTER-CONTINENTAL CUP

Here was a bright idea; what about an Inter-Continental Cup??? A "final" pitting the Champions of Europe ("finalised" by the winners of the then European Cup against the Champions of South America's Copa Libertadores), to stir up emotions. 

The first leg of the 1967 Intercontinental Cup Final on the 18th October, brought a few issues including torrid behaviour, dreadful fouls and flared tempers.... which did football no favours at all. 

The Final between Argentinian  and South American Champions, Racing Club v the Scottish and European Champions, Celtic, attracted 170,000 people in the first leg of the Final at Hampden Park.  

Celtic won 1-0 but lost the second game 2-1, at El Cellindro de Avellaneda,  making a 2-2 aggregate. In the play off the Argentinians won 1-0 in Uruguay. 

Celtic's Jimmy Johnstone, their nippy winger came in for some "treatment" during the Final, where the South Americans did what they were good at. See photo....

The following year Manchester United had a rough two legs against Estudiantes of Argentina. In La Bombonera, in the La Boca region of Buenos Aires, only 25,000 watched the home team win 1-0. Whereas 63,500 were at Old Trafford to witness United only draw 1-1, giving the trophy to their guests. 

Juan Ramon Veron, father of Juan Sebastian Veron scored in the opening minutes, George Best got sent off and Willie Morgan equalised in the final seconds; it was not enough.

The reputation of this competition was dented by the end of the 1960s, and in the 1970s some European clubs refused to take part and replacement clubs had to be found. 

In the 1980s the matches were played as a one off Final in Tokyo and that seemed to take the sting out of the event. Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Aston Villa all made runners up in the 1980s and Manchester United won in 1999, beating Palmeiras of Brazil in Japan. 

The clubs that have had most wins include Nacional, Penarol of Uruguay and Boca Juniors of Argentina, whilst in Europe, Real Madrid, and AC Milan have had most appearances.

25 different clubs have won in 45 editions, with Argentina having 9 wins, Italy 7 and Brazil 6.

In 2000 the FIFA World Club Cup was initiated and from 2005 it has taken its place annually, when more teams from other continents have been involved.  

In 2008 Manchester Utd beat LDU Quito (a club with its origins in the city's university, Ecuador) 1-0 in Yokohama. 

In 2012 Corinthians of Brazil (founded and named after the Corinthians of England) beat Chelsea 1-0, also in Yokohama, Japan and in 2019 Liverpool, the most recent winners, beat Flamengo of Brazil in Doha. Not to be confused with Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004), also known as the European/South American Cup.

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Organiser(s)	FIFA
Founded	2024; 2 years ago
Region	International
Teams	6
Related competitions	FIFA Club World Cup
Current champions	Paris Saint-Germain (1st title)
Most championships	Paris Saint-Germain Real Madrid (1 title each)
2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup

The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is an annual football competition organised by FIFA, the global governing body for the sport. First held in 2024, the tournament features the reigning club champions of each of the six FIFA confederations, contested in a knockout in competition which the representative from Europe receives a BYE to the final!! Good planning!!

The tournament concept is closely modelled on the earlier version of the FIFA World Cup, which underwent major expansion and restructuring starting with the 2025 edition. The FIFA Intercontinental Cup confers the title of annual world champions. Paris Saint-Germain are the current holders, having defeated Flamengo 2–1 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra-time in the 2025 Final.

Overall Real Madrid has won it 4 times, Barca 3, Corinthians 2 and the rest once each.

ENGLAND v USSR AND RUSSIA

 17th October 2007

You will know the Political  "history" of Russia and its varied titles over the years. If not try this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Federation_of_the_Soviet_Union.

On this day, 2007 England played Russia on the artificial surface of the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and a 2-1 defeat was a major setback in their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. They eventually finished third in the group – behind qualifiers Croatia and Russia – and equal on points with Israel. England manager Steve McClaren only lasted another month in the job following the defeat in Russia.

v Russia

Games won:	1
Games drawn:	1
Games lost:	1

Date	Match	Result	Score	Competition
12 Sep 2007	England v Russia	W	3-0	UEFA European Championship
17 Oct 2007	Russia v England	L	2-1	UEFA European Championship
11 Jun 2016	England v Russia	D	1-1	UEFA European Championship

v USSR

Games won:	5
Games drawn:	3
Games lost:	3

Date	Match	Result	Score	Competition
18 May 1958	USSR v England	D	1-1	International Friendly
08 Jun 1958	England v USSR	D	2-2	FIFA World Cup
17 Jun 1958	USSR v England	L	1-0	FIFA World Cup
22 Oct 1958	England v USSR	W	5-0	International Friendly
06 Dec 1967	England v USSR	D	2-2	International Friendly
08 Jun 1968	England v USSR	W	2-0	UEFA European Championship
10 Jun 1973	USSR v England	W	1-2	International Friendly
02 Jun 1984	England v USSR	L	0-2	International Friendly
26 Mar 1986	USSR v England	W	0-1	International Friendly
18 Jun 1988	England v USSR	L	1-3	UEFA European Championship
21 May 1991 The Football Federation of the Soviet Union was a governing body of football in the Soviet Union and since 1972 the main governing body of football in the country. The Federation was created in late 1934 by the decision of the Supreme Council of Physical Culture of the Soviet Union as its sports section governing specifically football. It was the only organization that obtained recognition of FIFA in 1946.	England v USSR	W	3-1	England Challenge Cup

NOT AT ALL MESSY!!

In 2004 Seventeen-year-old Lionel Messi, made his league debut for FC Barcelona in a 1-0 win against cross-town rivals Espanyol at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona.

Messi began the 2004–05 season as a guaranteed starter for the Barcelona B team, but after some lobbying by the senior players, he was promoted to the first team by manager Frank Rijkaard. He made his La Liga debut for Barcelona on 16 October 2004, at 17 years old. He scored his first senior goal on 1 May 2005, becoming the youngest-ever scorer for the club at the time. He was at that time the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition, and the club won the league title during that season.

On his 18th birthday, Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player, which kept him with Barcelona through 2010, and had a release clause of €150 million. Three months later, as his performance continued to make waves, his contract was updated to double his salary and keep him with the club until 2014. By the end of the 2005-6 season. Barcelona had won La Liga again as well as the UEFA Champions League.

During the 2006-7, Messi scored his first hat-trick during a game against Real Madrid, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a Clasico in 12 years. Two goals scored by Messi against Getafe and Espanyol during the season drew notice for their similarities to two famous goals scored by fellow Argentine Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup match against England, leading to comparisons between Messi and Maradona that would endure throughout Messi's career. Barcelona finished the 2006–07 season with only one trophy – the 2006 Supercopa de España – and the 2007–08 season without a single trophy, leading to Rijkaard's departure.

SOME INCREDIBLE FIGURES BELOW!!

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2004	Barcelona C	10	(5)
2004–2005	Barcelona B	22	(6)
2004–2021	Barcelona	520!!	(474!!)
2021–2023	Paris Saint-Germain	58	(22)
2023–	Inter Miami	79	(73)
International career
2004–2005	Argentina U20	18	(14)
2008	Argentina U23	5	(2)
2005–2026	Argentina	208!!	(126!!)